Improved process op treating petroleum



, mass, meanwhile, being stirred.

filinitrd giant we can.

JOSEPH A. TATRO, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 99,728, dated February 8, 1870.

IMPROVED PROCESS or TREATING PETROLEUM.

The Schedule referred to in'these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

use, I will explain that when crude petroleum is distilled in the common way, the first product is benzole the second benzine, the third a light oil, the .fourth the common burning-oil, then gasoline, and last, a dark heavy oil. The only one of these parts fitfor burning in the family lamp is the fourth product above specified. 7

By my process I am. enabled to take all the above products, mix them together, and make the whole a safe and reliable oil.

The ditliculty'to be overcome is to raise the fire-oil, that is, the temperature at which flame will ignite the oil, to such apoint as will make the oil safe for family use, and this I accomplish perfectly.

My process is as follows:

Having distilled the crude oil, driving over everything that will go over in theworrmof the still, and having, say, one hundred gallons of product, take from one-fourth per centto two per cent. of sulphuric acid, and pour it into the whole. product, and mix thoroughly. \Vhen thoroughly mixed, then add lime, partially or wholly slaked, in almost a dry state, sprinkling it over the oil, and allowing itto subside into the oil and act upon it. 'The quantity of lime added is about three per centum. Gases will now rise through the oil, the When the gas ceases to rise, add three per centum more of lime, in all about six per centum.

The lime, and the gas evolved therefrom, combine with those ingredients of theoil which render it daugcrously inflammable, and raise the fire-point to a perfectly safe degree, from 140-to 160 Fahrenheit, according to the duration and strength of the chemical action. v

Sulphuric acid may be used with phosphate of lime, in place of the slaked lime, if desired, but in this case itwill be best to mix these substances before putting them with the oil. g

A process something similar to this has been applied to'crudeoil before distillation, hut in this case only apprtion ot' the distilled product is fit 'tor burnlug-oil, and I expressly disclaim anyintention to claim as my invention the application of these ingredients to crude oil or to distilled oil, but it will be observed that an enormous saving of material is made by applying my process to the whole product arising from the distillation of crude oil, thereby utilizing the henzole, benzine, light oil, gasoline, and heavy oil, which have heretofore been of little. value.

The only product to which I do not apply my process is the residuum left in the still, which cannot be forced through the worm, consisting mainly of charcoal and tar.

The amount of sulphuric acid. used is determined by the gravity of the crude oil, using the greater quantity for the heavier oil.

Claim.

I claim, as my inventiondients, in about the proportions specified, to the whole product arising from the distillation of crude petroleum-oil, for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH A. TAT-R0.

Witnesses:

WM. ED. SIMONDS, SARA J. SIMONDS. 

